Review: Spark Joy: An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo

3 stars for Spark Joy: An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo.

Marie Kondo is the envy of most, if not all, simply for what she has done by turning her passion into a business, and a successful one at that judging from her TV shows and millions of copies of books sold. The thing is, precisely because of all the hype, I have been put off reading her book until now.

According to Marie Kondo, the goal in tidying is to create a living environment filled with the things we love and what matters ultimately is keeping the things that bring us joy and discarding those that do not. She believes that tidying up is more than simply deciding what to keep and what not. She advocates that it is a priceless opportunity for learning, one that allows us to reassess our relationship with our possessions and in doing so, create the lifestyle that brings us the most joy. Hence, Spark Joy.

The book is aptly titled. Short and sweet and to the point. It is interesting to read about the Japanese way of tidying, specifically the KonMari method. Her illustrations are charmingly good; easy to understand and self-explanatory. But that's all to it. I will say her methods and solutions are kind of peculiar. Perhaps that's because it is the Japanese way or maybe it is just uniquely hers. But no matter which, it is not likely to be a method I will use in my decluttering. For one, it sure feels funny to give thanks to my belongings before discarding them. It may be a method I employ for young children during a clean-up exercise, but not for an adult, and definitely not me.

I actually read Spark Joy first, way before I started reading Change Your Habits, Change Your Life. But in the end, I finish the latter first as I have difficulty picking this one up where I leave off almost every single time. It just doesn't spark the - reading or tidying or cleaning - joy that I expect it to. Sorry to say, there are a few times I almost feel like giving up. I am glad when the end is in sight.

Though I still cannot understand what the hype has been all about after reading Spark Joy that does not give me sparks of happiness, I think it may still be a good book for those trying to get organised.


Publisher: Ebury Digital; 01 edition
Publication date: 7 Jan 2016

*** Favourite quote ***

Tidying is the act of confronting yourself; cleaning is the act of confronting nature.

~ Spark Joy
Marie Kondo

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Spark Joy is an in-depth, line illustrated, room-by-room guide to decluttering and organising your home. It covers every room in the house from bedrooms and kitchens to bathrooms and living rooms as well as a wide range of items in different categories, including clothes, photographs, paperwork, books, cutlery, cosmetics, shoes, bags, wallets and valuables. Charming line drawings explain how to properly organise drawers, wardrobes, cupboards and cabinets. The illustrations also show Ms Kondo's unique folding method, clearly showing how to fold anything from shirts, trousers and jackets to skirts, socks and bras.

The secret to Marie Kondo's unique and simple KonMari tidying method is to focus on what you want to keep, not what you want to get rid of. Ask yourself if something 'sparks joy' and suddenly it becomes so much easier to understand if you really need it in your home and your life. When you surround yourself with things you love you will find that your whole life begins to change.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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